Geology

Broadway High School

Instructor: Russ Kohrs

Contact Info: rkohrs@rockingham.k12.va.us, 896-7081

Course Blog: bhsgeology.blogspot.com (access to course documents, calendar, and news)

Course Description and Objectives: The student will learn about geology, the study of roc ks
and minerals and the processes in their formation, through a variety of methods. Labs, field
trips, lectures, and classroom work will all be an integral part of correlating the physical and
historical aspects of our earth to local geology.

Course Text:
Lutgens, Frederick K. and Edward J. Tarbuck, 2003. Essentials of Geology. New Jersey:
Prentice Hall

Educational Videos: From time to time, videos of an educational nature will be shown as a
supplement to material presented in class. These programs are products of the Discovery
Channel, History Channel, BBC, or PBS.

Evaluation: Students will receive one grade each six-week term, based on the following
criteria:
30% = Labs and Field Trips
40% = Homework and Classwork
30% = Quizzes and Tests

Grading Scale: This scale is based on the Rockingham County Board of Education’s guidelines.
A = 100-94
B = 93-86
C = 85-78
D = 77-70
F = 70 & below

Materials: A student is expected to come to class every day with the textbook, a notebook, and
something to write with. Few additional materials are necessary. Field trips are sometimes
messy and hard work, but are a required part of the curriculum. BE PREPARED!

Expectations: Students should come to class expecting to learn, be challenged, and to have fun in
the process. Learning will be based around student-centered activities. Behavior will be a key to
how well your experience goes. I have high expectations for your success and your behavior,
and we’ll all try to get along. Field trips are very important to your learning and are not optional.
Missing a field trip means that you will have a paper to write. I expect you to have regular
attendance, BE PROMPT, and treat everyone with respect and the same courtesy as you
expect...BE POLITE!
Field Trips: Field trips are tentatively scheduled as seen below. Permission slips will be sent
home, and you will only need money to cover entrance fees for our trip to Grand Caverns. Most
trips are one period and no other classes will be missed. A lab will be associated with all trips.

September: Zinc Mine, Timberville, VA; Mole Hill, Dayton, VA. one period.
October: Plains District Park, Timberville, VA. one period.
November: Mundy Quarries, Broadway, VA. one period.
January: Fossil collection,Singer’s Glen, VA. one period.
February: Chimney Rock, Brock’s Gap, VA. one period.
March: North Fork of the Shenandoah, Broadway, VA. one period.
April: Grand Caverns Park and sinkhole springs, Grottoes, VA. all day.
May: Storybook Trail, New Market, VA. one period.

Course Objectives: Since this is not an SOL course, we will not need to follow a state-mandated
curriculum guide. I would, however, like the parent or guardian to look over these objectives
and contact me if you have any questions. I love teaching geology, being outside of the building
and doing as much hands-on work as is possible. I’ll ask the students to work hard, be inquiring,
and show respect for each other, and I hope to create an enjoyable learning experience.

1. The student will investigate and understand basic processes of rock formation.

2. The student will investigate and understand the three types of rock.

3. The student will investigate and understand the processes of weathering, erosion, and
deposition.

4. The student will investigate and understand the theory of Plate Tectonics.

5. The student will investigate and understand the factors that lead to local geologic formations.

6. The student will investigate and understand the process of natural science inquiry.

7. The student will investigate and understand how groundwater influences geology.

8. The student will investigate and understand basic map making and map reading skills.

9. The student will investigate and understand the mining of minerals.

10. The student will investigate and understand the identification of ore-forming minerals.

11. The student will investigate and understand the significance of moving water to geology.